Job Description

We are looking for an outgoing, confident Visitor Services Assistant who is passionate about providing excellent customer service and creating memorable visitor experiences.

You will thrive in a people-focused environment and enjoy working in a dynamic setting. Enthusiasm, reliability and a proactive approach are essential, along with the ability to communicate effectively and warmly with visitors. A drive to learn and work as part of a team in line with our shared mission.

You will be an advocate for the important work that St Andrews Botanic Garden carries out in Conservation, Research and Education and effectively communicate this through the programmes and events on offer with a variety of audiences.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a beautiful location with an ambitious team and support the Garden.

Personal attributes

The post holder will:

Have excellent communication skills, be confident and passionate in engaging with a variety of audiences from across a wide range of ages, abilities, and social backgrounds. Have experience of working with and engaging with children. Be a great team player, adaptable and flexible to a varied working environment. Enjoy customer-facing responsibilities, be adaptable and confident to react and respond to adverse weather conditions. Be able to prioritise effectively, organise meticulously and take the initiative. Have experience working in a busy customer-facing role, ideally within a visitor attraction or hospitality setting. Be well versed in handling cash/card transactions and using booking and point-of-sale systems. Be versatile and able to support across different teams across the garden. Have a good understanding of food and beverage serving in a fast-paced environment.

Key responsibilities

The post holder shall:

Assist with daily operations of the visitor centre, including admissions, retail, and event support. Help with setting up and running events, ensuring smooth visitor flow and positive visitor experiences. Support the maintenance of clean, safe and welcoming public areas, both inside and outside. Interact with visitors and participants proactively and providing a welcoming, inclusive, tailored approach to ensure they get the most out of their experience and offer any additional support required. Be proactive identifying improvements for visitor experience and share best practice/lessons learned with others in the team. Ensure all safety procedures are followed in accordance with the Trust's Health and Safety policies and procedures. Carry out other ad hoc duties, instructions or reasonable requests required by the Management team.
SABG is committed to attracting and developing the expertise and careers of exceptional individuals at all levels as part of its core mission and values. You can expect to work with other motivated and qualified colleagues and you will receive a professional development budget.

If you require any further information at this stage or would like to discuss this post then please visit St Andrews Botanic Garden website and contact Operations Manager (Beth Kelly) via jobs@standrewsbotanic.org.

Please note: No agencies please.

Background information about the Garden

St Andrews Botanic Garden was founded in 1889 and has developed on its present site since 1960. It is a beautiful and inspirational garden in the heart of St Andrews. The impressively landscaped 18-acre garden provides a haven within mature trees and shrubs, herbaceous borders, glasshouses and ponds.

St Andrews Botanic Garden (SABG) holds an exceptional, diverse and documented botanical collection in 18 beautiful acres, including half an acre of glasshouses. Located in the centre of the iconic town of St Andrews, it benefits from its links to this UK top 5 University and the global tourist interest in St Andrews.

You would be joining SABG at an exciting time in its history as it refocuses on making its gardens, plants and expertise relevant and accessible to a wider audience. SABG has recently gone through a transition to become an independent charitable trust and is in a challenging time of growth and development.

Activities and events bring to life the scientific interest and botanical diversity of the Garden. Family activity trails, champion trees, play areas and informal activity provision ensure families are especially well provided for.

We believe passionately in the ability of gardens to change lives for the better. We want our Garden to be full of life, at the heart of our community and reaching out to difficult and under-served audiences through our public programming, educational activities and day-to-day operation.

Objectives

The Trust's primary objectives are:

To welcome and encourage members of the public of all ages to visit the Garden for enjoyment and education about plants, their biology, and cultivation; To advance the education and awareness of the public, particularly children, in biodiversity, horticulture, botany and the environment through the provision of classes, workshops, short courses, out-reach programmes, publications, participation opportunities and other media promotion; To maintain, display and develop significant collections of named living plants and related objects available to all for reference and study; To provide an academic and scientific resource; and To contribute to botanical networks and research initiatives on plants, their environment, biodiversity and conservation, with particular reference to native flora of Scotland and the specialist living collections of the Garden.

Our values

Beautiful gardens and natural environments are fundamentally important to the mental and physical wellbeing of all people. We live better, healthier and more satisfying lives when we can create, care for and enjoy gardens. The future of life on earth depends on the degree to which humans understand, value and protect plants and the habitats on which they depend.

How to apply

Please submit a

CV and

Supporting Statement

to provide evidence that you have the abilities and skills required for the post. In addition, within your statement please explain briefly what attracts you to both this post and organisation.

Please also give the

names and addresses of two referees

who we might contact if required. One of the referees must be your current or most recent employer. Please indicate on your application whether it would be possible for us to collect references in advance of any interview. We will only contact the referees with your prior agreement.

So that we may contact you about your application please include within your application

your contact details -

full name, address (for any correspondence), telephone numbers (day time and evening) and email address (if you have one).

Submitting your application

Applications should be returned by email or by post for the attention of Beth Kelly, St Andrews Botanic Garden, Canongate, St Andrews KY16 8RT

by the 12pm on Friday 26th April 2025.

Shortlisting process and interviews

Applications will be shortlisted and candidates who appear to best meet the requirements from the information given will be invited to interview. Interviews will take place by arrangement in the Garden prior to

Friday 2nd May 2025.

Information for applicants with disabilities

Please contact us in good time if there is any assistance you require.

Job Types: Permanent, Zero hours contract

Pay: 12.60 per hour

Expected hours: 8 per week

Benefits:

Employee discount On-site parking
Experience:

Barista: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person